Qutab Minar Complex. Delhi, India. 08.02.2013

Along the yellow line of the Delhi Metro, south, there is a stop that begs for you to get out and explore. Getting out of the metro station, we took an auto rickshaw up the hill to the Qutab Minar. I will use this spelling as it is most used in publications and in Delhi.

The "Minar" is a minaret, a tower which used to call followers to worship and was also used as a watchtower. This is the tallest in India at 73m, or 237 feet, and was started in 1192. This sandstone structure and the surrounding buildings and ruins stand testament to quality building and the differences in design details between the Muslim rulers and the Hindu sculptors, which can be seen...if you look.

The height of the Qutab Minar is breathtaking

 If you love architecture, you will love this place. This small area on the hilltop spans several centuries to almost a millennium and will keep you busy with all the details. Most of the carving inscriptions are verses from the Qur'an. There are instances of Hindu influences, but you have to look. The main Minar has been fixed many times over the centuries due to damage from earthquakes and lightning strikes.

Detail on the Minar is outstanding

There are 379 steps up to the top, and up until 1981, you could climb them and take in the astounding view. But during a power outage, the stairs were plunged into darkness, and in the ensuing panic, 45 people lost their lives. Mostly children. When you are there, you might also hear that they closed the top due to the old "Lovers Leap" scenario, where wayward lovers would throw themselves off the top in despair. While it might have happened a few times over the centuries, the real reason was as stated above.

Arched screens are all that is left of the entrance into the courtyard of the Mosque

The Minar is the star attraction, of course, but there is so much more to see. The partial ruins next to the Minar are from the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. This Jami Masjid, or Friday Mosque, was constructed beginning in 1193. While incomplete today, it gives us a glimpse of the intricate carvings that adorned this architectural wonder.

Pillared cloisters surrounding the courtyard were added by Iltutmish starting in 1210

Just south of the Minar, sits the entrance gateway, The Alai Darwaza. It is considered one of the most important buildings of the Delhi Sultanate period, showing an example of the first true arches and domes used in India.

Heading into the Alai Darwaza from the inside. Visitors would have entered through the grounds in front

The large dome and the "fringe" in the arch make this architecture very special

The built-in seating provide a need respite from the intense heat of the day

The "Fringe" is supposed to be lotus buds, adding a touch of grace to the hard edge of the architecture

The current complex is not the first structures to sit at this site. The Qutab Complex was originally the site of Lal Kot Fort built by Tomar Rajput ruler, Anangpal in 739 AD. Later filled with 27 Hindu and Jain Temples, these temples were destroyed by the Islamic invaders to obtain stone and raw material for their mosques and other buildings.

Part of the original Jain Temple originally on this site

Some of the lost carvings of the Jain and Hindu temples originally on this site

 I'll talk about the Iron Pillar of Delhi in the next installment. It is so unique and mysterious that it deserves its own page. I hope you have enjoyed and have a continued interest in India and her history.